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The crowd jumps to my feet as I skate out to center ice.
The rest of it is a blur as each teammate in the starting lineup is announced. After that, the away team is announced, and we all head back to our team benches.
The lights come back on, and Lake, our team captain, skates out for the puck drop.
Before I know it, the game is underway, and we’re playing at the top of our ability. Everyone, including the opposing team, brought their best out tonight.
In the first period, Lake scores for us, and then the opposition makes a score. In the second period, Briggs takes a shot and misses but then I recover it, shooting it back to him and he takes another shot, scoring another goal for us.
Hearing the crowd go crazy whenever a score is made has me grinning from ear to ear.
By the time the third period is underway, we’re ahead by two points; I’m in the home box when I see Kaenan look up and wave at someone.
I follow his line of sight to find what I assume to be the owner's box. About twenty people stand by the glass on the third floor. I see a little girl, Berkeley, who I’ve seen him take post-game interviews with on his lap.
Then my eyes shift to a beautiful blonde.
It might be three floors away, but I’d know that silhouette anywhere.
Penelope.
I watch her bounce up and down and cheer as she watches our team skate back and forth. I watch her for a moment longer knowing I should be keeping my attention on the game.
Right before I know I need to stop watching, her eyes shift to mine. She pauses in place as we hold eye contact for a brief second until someone hits me in the arm.
“You’re on… go, Matthews!” They yell over the loud music and cheering crowds.
I jump over the sideboards as my alternate replaces me in the box.
I head for center ice and jump into the game. The opposing team has the puck, and everyone is in an all-out mad dash down the rink, headed straight for Seven, guarding the net.
Lake skates in front of the opposition, making him change course at the last second and narrowly missing me to his left. He tries to take the shot but misses, and Lake is in perfect position to take control of the puck.
He scoops it up and now all of the players are skating with everything we have to the other side of the rink.
A defensive player catches up to Lake, but I’m further over to his left.
Lake swivels a look at me and waits until the last second when he knows I’ll be free long enough to make the shot. Then he shoots it to me.
I skate down just a little closer, checking all the open spots around the goalie, and I find my opening.
I look around to see if any other player has a better shot, remembering that this isn’t about me anymore but about the team, but no one is in a better position.
This is my goal.
I take the shot with only seconds on the clock for the last period, and the goalie misses blocking the puck. It sinks in, and the horn rings out to call the end of the period.
The game is over, and we won with a two-point lead.
Lake skates full force for me, and then all of our teammates jump over the sideboards and ram into us.
“We did it!” Lake yells.
We won the third to the last game we needed.
With players patting my helmet and smiles forming on our group pile-up, this is the first time since my senior year playing college hockey that I have felt like a part of a team again.
My career as a hockey player for the Hawkeyes team seems to be falling into place… but there’s one thing I want more than anything, and I feel like I’m further away than I was when I started.
